A Meeting of Minds: How Peer Support is Helping to Shape Scotland's Childminding Future.
In January 2025, SCMA launched a mentoring pilot as part of the retention strand of the Programme for Scotland’s Childminding Future, which aims to trial new ways of supporting the childminding workforce.
It brings together both newly registered childminders and those who have been in the role longer, with phase one of the pilot taking place in eight local authority areas initially, phase two will now roll out to a further seven areas, where we are seeking childminders to take part as mentees. Mentors are sought throughout all participating areas.
The pilot is helping to strengthen the childminding community through peer support and collaboration and focuses on creating partnerships which offer a space where childminders can share ideas and ways of working, talk about any challenges and offer mutual support, Claire Shephard, Workforce Retention Manager at SCMA, says; “SCMA recognise that childminders can, at times, feel isolated. Our mentoring programme is a fantastic way to create a connection with someone who ‘gets it’”.
The programme, which involves two hours a month of paid time to talk, provides protected space for childminders to have conversations together about aspects of the job including things that are working well, and areas where they’d like to change or try something new. The program is flexible, which means everyone will have a different experience and different conversations.
Alice, from Eilean Siar, who joined as a mentor to learn more about how childminding practices differed in other areas, reflected on her experience; “I have really enjoyed getting to know my mentee and sharing ideas and practices with her. I felt at times that the partnership was more a meeting of minds rather than a Mentor-Mentee relationship, and she was giving me just as much as I was giving her.”
Instead of technical or formal training, the pilot encourages open and honest discussion. Lisa, from East Dunbartonshire, who was partnered with Alice, shared; “Having someone to talk through new ideas, processes and documents has been extremely useful.
"Having a mentor to advise on how to tackle new processes and give an opinion on how to approach and help run my business has been so beneficial and I wish that I’d had the opportunity when I first started childminding.”
Lisa Usher, Mentor Co-ordinator at SCMA, says; “The pilot is about sharing the golden nuggets of information that we develop over time. It’s not about telling anyone what to do – no one has all the answers, but by talking together and being part of a wider network, we can work to support everyone involved in, not only mentoring, but childminding as a whole.”
Participants are invited along to additional training and development sessions where focusses are selected by those involved. SCMA will share best practice, guidance and information and provide childminders with the chance to ask questions and share thoughts and experiences, together.
Lisa Usher says; “Everyone has something to gain from our mentoring programme.”
The strong relationship and insights from Lisa and Alice, who took part in phase one, show just how impactful support from others in the same industry can be. Alice adds; “I would say to a new childminder to try and get into a childminding community, be it online groups or getting to know other childminders in their area. These partnerships and friendships are just as important as the ones they’ll have with their prospective families.”
Phase two of Mentoring, for mentees, will begin in Stirling, Falkirk, Dumfries & Galloway, East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian in October 2025 – if you’re a childminder in these areas and would like to get involved, register your interest here!
If you would like to find out more about our mentoring programme, you can come along to our information sessions.